When a family loses someone they love, Seeing their loved one looking peaceful and well-presented can bring comfort and closure. But have you ever wondered who is responsible for this final act of care? A mortuary cosmetologist is accountable for this work.
Mortuary cosmetology is more than just a job, it’s a deeply compassionate service that provides families with a lasting, peaceful image of their loved ones. A well-prepared appearance can ease the shock of loss and provide peace to those in mourning.
This is why mortuary cosmetologists play a crucial role in the funeral industry, blending artistry with sensitivity to honor the memory of the deceased.
WHAT IS MORTUARY OR FUNERAL COSMETOLOGY?
Funeral cosmetology is the study of restoring the appearance of the deceased to resemble their natural state, enabling their family to see and remember them as they were during the final ceremony. It is also known as mortuary makeup, funeral makeup, or restorative arts, and sometimes, it is known by the older name desairology.
WHAT IS A MORTUARY COSMETOLOGIST?
A mortuary cosmetologist is a skilled professional who prepares and enhances the appearance of the deceased for funeral viewings. Their duties include applying makeup, styling hair, and, if needed, performing restorative work to make the deceased look as natural as possible.
The main difference between a regular cosmetologist and a mortuary beautician is that you won’t be applying makeup to beautify them. Instead, your goal will be to use funeral makeup to make them look as they naturally did when they were alive.
As a mortuary cosmetologist, you’ll work closely with grieving families, offering both your expertise and kindness. Your job goes beyond makeup and styling hair; it’s about showing empathy to those who are mourning the loss of a loved one.
Since most funerals take place within a week or two of the person’s death, the wound will still be fresh.
A mortuary cosmetologist also acts as a comforter, and it’s often the most rewarding part of the job. You will be the one responsible for how someone views their spouse, parent, or even child for the last time.
Unlike traditional cosmetologists, whose focus is on enhancing beauty, mortuary cosmetologists aim to restore the person’s appearance to how they naturally looked in life.
The goal is not to glamorize but to create a familiar and comforting image for grieving loved ones, helping them say goodbye in a meaningful way.
WHAT DOES A MORTUARY COSMETOLOGIST DO?
As previously stated, a mortuary cosmetologist styles hair, applies makeup, and paints nails on a deceased body in an attempt to make them look as if they were simply asleep. But what does that process actually involve?
PRESERVATION OF BODY
For starters, the body is picked up from the location of death and brought to a funeral home or mortuary. From there, the body is then bathed and disinfected.
In most states, the body has to be either cremated/buried within 48 hours or needs to be preserved. The most common methods are refrigeration or embalming.
Embalming is the standard method for preserving a body when there will be a wake, visitation, or open-casket funeral.
The process of embalming is simple and is something you might need to know how to do, depending on how you choose to enter into the field of desairology.
The process involves removing the body fluids (fluids are removed usually through the veins with a machine), and then embalming fluid is pushed through the circulatory system via the arteries.
Embalming fluid is a mixture of formaldehyde, water, a bunch of other hard-to-pronounce chemicals, and dye. Besides preservation, the goal is to give the body a more lifelike color. Organs and body cavities are also preserved using a relatively similar process.
Depending on your licensing and job position, you may or may not be required to take part in that process.
STYLING HAIR
Once the body has been thoroughly disinfected and preserved, the cosmetic process can begin.
The family of the deceased will have given you or the funeral home you’re working with a “memory photo.” This is your reference photo for how the person looked while they were still alive, and how the family wants to remember them.
Styling the hair of a deceased person isn’t easy, because most likely you’ll be styling the hair when the person is lying down. Not to mention, you will have to shampoo, condition, and comb it prior to styling.
Regardless of the request or the difficulties, it will be your job to make sure you style the hair as accurately as possible.
MAKEUP
When it comes to a preserved body, makeup is going to act a little differently than it normally would and the reason for this is the embalming process.
The chemicals involved in preservation make the skin firm, almost hard. That means that blending makeup is going to be more difficult. Even if you can blend it well, you run the risk of the face looking cakey, streaked, and unnatural. Tthe goal is to make them look natural, not glamorized.
A mortuary cosmetologist will also need to focus heavily on the lips. This is because, as with the skin, embalming drastically changes the appearance of the lips. It makes them appear thin, almost nonexistent.
Lip liner, lipstick, and lipgloss will need to be masterfully used to reconstruct the natural appearance of the person’s lips.
When applying the makeup, it’s important to pay close attention to what the family has requested. Did the person wear a lot of makeup before death? They might request eyeliner or even eyeshadow. Did the person hardly ever wear makeup? You might want to use as little as possible.
PAINTING NAILS
A desairologist or mortuary cosmetologist will also often paint the nails of a deceased person before viewings, burials, and funeral services.
This is done because, after someone passes away, their nails turn a pale grey or white shade, which isn’t common for living people. Plus, in the casket, their hands will be visibly placed on their chest, and not painting them could ruin the whole “peacefully asleep” aesthetic.
Most mortuary beauticians simply swipe a neutral shade over the nails. But again, this is all at the request of the family.
It’s important to remember, also, to be sensitive to the family’s religious and/or cultural customs that may impact what you can and can’t do. It may also affect what products you can and can’t use during this process.
ROADMAP FOR BECOMING A MORTUARY COSMETOLOGIST
You can enter into the field of desairology in one of two ways. Look at the image below:
Each way has its own set of requirements and benefits. Currently, there is no standard licensing for mortuary cosmetology on its own as a separate field.
TAKING THE COSMETOLOGY ROUTE
If you want to be a cosmetologist with the option of working with the deceased on occasion, you could consider beauty school. Beauty school is the fastest of the two options, as it usually only requires one to two years of schooling.
OBTAIN A DIPLOMA OR GED
First, you would get either a high school diploma or your GED (if you haven’t already). Then, you need to either get an associate’s degree in cosmetology or complete a cosmetology training program and receive a certificate. Remember, different states have different requirements.
ACQUIRE THE REQUIRED TRAINING
So research state regulations as each state has its specific regulations regarding cosmetology, including what types of training and certifications are required to work in desairology (cosmetology for the deceased).
If you’re interested in working with the deceased, it’s crucial to gain experience with mortuaries or funeral homes. Internships or part-time work in this setting can provide hands-on experience. There is a requirement of minimum working hours to become a mortuary cosmetologist based on the state.
OBTAIN YOUR MORTUARY COSMETOLOGY LICENSE
After that, you’re eligible to take your state’s cosmetology licensing exam. Once you pass that and become a state-certified cosmetologist, you can practice desairology as well!
Taking the mortician route
If you want to be involved in the whole process and not just the makeup aspect, you could become an embalmer. Becoming an embalmer usually takes two to four years of schooling.
OBTAIN A MORTUARY SCIENCE DEGREE
Becoming an embalmer requires a degree in mortuary science as well as special licensing. You can take mortuary science courses at most universities.
Depending on your state, you will either get a license that allows you to be a mortician and an embalmer, or those might be separated into two licenses. The only one required for desairology is the embalmer’s license.
An embalmer is trained and certified to preserve bodies and is normally hired by funeral homes to do just that. In most cases, an embalmer is the one who does the cosmetics on the deceased as well.
HOW TO GET A JOB AS A MORTUARY COSMETOLOGIST
How to get hired as a mortuary cosmetologist is also dependent upon the route you took to enter into the profession.
GETTING HIRED AS A MORTICIAN
As an embalmer, you have the potential to secure full-time employment at a funeral home, if there is an available position. In rural areas, job openings may be limited, so expanding your search radius could increase your chances of finding the right opportunity.
You can also apprentice under a senior embalmer or mortician, which can increase your chances of getting hired by that funeral home somewhere down the road.
If you became a cosmetologist and went through beauty school, your opportunities in desairology will be more limited. One big reason for that is that only larger funeral homes in metropolitan areas can afford to hire a specified cosmetologist.
In smaller homes or more rural areas, it will generally be the embalmer or mortician handling those duties.
But don’t fear, you can still enter into the business! It might just take a little extra work.
Know how Female mortician Miranda Robinson depicts “Embalming” as a form of art.
GETTING HIRED AS A MORTUARY BEAUTICIAN
If you’re a cosmetologist, look up funeral homes near you that you would be willing to work with. Then, you can connect with them and reach out to offer your services on an as-needed basis.
You can also check for job postings online, either on the funeral home’s website directly, or on a job search site, like Indeed.
It will help your chances of getting hired if you have a portfolio of your previous work. Even if you haven’t worked on the dead yet, photos of your work on the living will generally suffice.
Most mortuary cosmetologists who enter the profession by beauty school end up working as independent contractors in this field.
After you’ve established a steady relationship with a funeral home and proven your quality of work and expertise, you can become their designated makeup artist. That can help provide you with a steadier stream of work in the field.
HOW MUCH DOES A MORTUARY COSMETOLOGIST MAKE PER YEAR?
How much you can earn per year in this field is also mainly dependent upon the way in which you entered the industry.
For example, if you’re only a cosmetologist with no further licensing, you will most likely be doing jobs in conjunction with your standard cosmetology work.
Thus, you can expect to earn what an average cosmetologist earns: about $48,750 per year. It’s important to note that this price can go up if you specialize in the reconstruction of disfigurement, as you can charge more for your desairologist services.
On the other hand, if you’re doing mortuary cosmetology as a natural aspect of being a mortician, you can expect to earn an average of $66,583 per year.
Either way, being a mortuary cosmetologist can be a very rewarding career both financially and emotionally.
WHY CONTINUOUS LEARNING MATTER FOR MORTUARY COSMETOLOGISTS?
In an ever-evolving field, staying up to date with the latest advancements in cosmetic products, embalming techniques, and industry standards is critical. While the basics of mortuary cosmetology are taught during formal education programs, many professionals choose to continue learning by attending specialized workshops, and seminars, or pursuing advanced certifications.
These opportunities allow mortuary cosmetologists to improve their craft in areas such as cosmetic restoration, advanced embalming methods, or even grief counseling, which is crucial for emotional support to the families they serve.
A REWARDING CAREER WITH A HEART
Becoming a mortuary cosmetologist blends skill, sensitivity, and artistry to help families find comfort during their most difficult moments. Whether through beauty school or embalming, this compassionate profession offers a unique way to support grieving loved ones while making a lasting impact. It’s a fulfilling career that combines technical expertise with deep empathy.
Related Reads
- Life After Cosmetology School: How To Start Your Career As A Newly Licensed Cosmetologist
- What’s The Difference Between A Cosmetologist And An Esthetician?
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